Page 53 of Vile Emotion
That’s how I know right now, he isn’t that angry as he strides over to where I am with my sister. We decided to pick a table that was hidden so no one would bother with us while we could spot everyone out. I guess it didn’t really work since those damned devilish eyes didn’t search long before landing on mine.
I blink and look away after realizing I’m staring too long.
“Do you want me to leave?” Liliana asks.
My eyes fall on hers with a frown.
“No, why would I want that? I haven’t seen you in so long. I feel like I’ve missed everything. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.” She smiles at me. “I don’t care if you’ve missed some stuff, I’ll just fill you in. That’s what sisters are for, right?”
“Right.”
Before I can let go of Liliana, I feel a dark presence behind me and I know it’s my husband.
“You looked away from me, sweetheart.” He says with his body right behind me, so damn close that I know his scent.
Pinewood, cedar wood, vanilla,and something else. That’s what I smell on him. I don’t know if it’s cologne or something else. My eyes close for a moment then I catch myself, I clear my throat moving away from Alaric as I let my sister go out of what is probably becoming a death trap rather than a hug.
“Mmm…” Alaric lets out some sound as his arm snakes around my waist and pulls me back to him. “Don’t do that shit again.”
There’s a difference in his tone from his earlier threats but there’s no time to decipher it as my body reacts without my knowledge, I elbow him in the gut and he lets out a low oomph.
“Oh!” I turn to face him with eyes wide open. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.”
Alaric chuckles as he straightens.
“You did mean it. Own it.”
I glare at him.
“I didn’t mean it, it was reflexes.” Then I step closer to him invading his space as he zeroes in on our proximity. Grabbing the lapel of his suit, I maneuver him to lean closer to me as I whisper. “You’d know if I meant it. It wouldn’t be your well-toned gut either.”
“I’d love to see you try to mean it, my wife. I’d fold you into a fucking pretzel, you wouldn’t know how to get out.”
“What does that mean?”
Alaric opens his mouth to talk but a small clearing of the throat gets our attention.
“My Ana, I’ll be right back. Gotta go, umm, do something.” Liliana says and before I can stop her, she’s off.
The feel of Alaric’s fingertips on my jaw makes me hyper aware that I’m not looking his way as he turns my head to face him.
“My Ana, huh? That’s cute.” He says.
“You can’t call me that. That’s for my family only.”
“Look around, my Ana, I am your family. Now, let’s go mingle…together this time. Be a good wife and relax, you’re so tense, darling.”
I didn’t want to do it but there was something about the way he was looking at me and touching me, of course polar oppositeof each other but I don’t want him to confuse me. He can’t. I won’t let him.
“No, please, Alaric.” I say as he leads me in the direction of where my parents are talking to the mayor. I don’t want to be anywhere near them, they haven’t liked me for a very long time and I don’t know where I stand with them. They’re my parents but I don’t know… I just can’t.
“Oh, baby, yes.” His words drip out like the sweet taste of honey when it drops on your tongue. The rich and authentic kind.
“Alaric, please.”
“Although someone else may enjoy the way you beg, my Ana, I do not. Now, toughen your firm yet delectable ass up and let’s say hi to my in-laws. Where are your manners, darling?”
